My Bedroom Redesign (It Sucks to be Crazy)

So after I bought my little bedside table the other day, my room has a very beach cottage-y feel to it. I decided I wanted to go whole-hog with that idea, and Saturday night after dinner, I had Fred take me to JoAnn’s because I had some ideas (Pinterest, of course.)

I bought four white picture frames (I took 3 back on Sunday, more on that later), an ocean-y fabric, muslin, some scrapbook paper, some tiny scissors, stuffing…I think that’s it.  It came out to $78, which I didn’t think was terrible considering what the frames cost ($55 for all 4).

I came home and traced a crab, sea turtle and sea horse on three different shades of blue scrapbook paper, then cut them out with the tiny scissors. I cut out rectangles of the ocean print and centered the silhouettes, and was just about the open the $10 frames when I remembered I had some black frames and white spray paint. What would the Junk Gypsies do? They would try it. If it didn’t work, I still had the $10 frames.

Well, it worked. I had to wait until Sunday morning to put them together, but these $1 frames I’d gotten years ago at the dollar store did the trick.

Then I cut out rectangles of muslin, ironed it onto freezer paper and ran it through the laser printer. If I’d been thinking, I would have downloaded the images, placed them in a document and would have been able to center the images. As it was, I had to play jigsaw puzzle to put them together. Then I added the seaside fabric to each end to make it a long pillow. I took the remaining fabric and wrapped it around so the muslin images were “framed” in the seaside fabric.

This was a LOT more work than I expected. Not only did the thread keep breaking, but I sewed one end of the pillow wrong and had to cut it and resew it after I’d stuffed the pillow which is a PITA. But it looks good all put together.

I bought this picture as a download from Etsy. I thought it was so pretty. Another spray-painted frame. BTW, I took the frames back and got $28 back, so the whole redesign was $50, including the $25 frame I bought for a picture I don’t have yet.

I already had sea glass and shells, and the containers and the crane. I just put them all in one place. This is an old entertainment center that I put in the bedroom and use to store quilts and books.

I also already had the decorative balls that look like sand, and the basket.

And I’d made the burlap pictures long ago, was going to make pillows out of them, but the bad thing about printing on your computer is you’re limited by size. But I had more frames, so…

 

 

I’m waiting to hear from an artist because I want a print of this picture called Southern Belle. I’ve loved it for a long time, and think it will be gorgeous in the room.

So, it sucks to be crazy but sometimes it comes together.

Goals the Week of STILL Nothing

Okay, I have to take the boy to the dentist for a filling Tuesday, but other than that, nada.

This week

1) Finish novella

2) work on revisions

3) sew something

4) Pinterest project

5) hall closet/middle room closet

6) Day with Mom

7) Keep up exercise

8) Keep up the house. My cleaning lady comes back next week.Really all I’ve had to do is sweep!

Another Creative Commons picture.

 

SCATTERED!

I’m down to three weeks left in my summer vacation and I’ve gotten so little done, especially compared to last summer. I wrote a novel, but I’ve hardly done any projects since I’ve been back from the west coast. I have some super simple projects but I haven’t done any of them, though I have all the supplies.

Then there was the organization thing I was going to do this summer. Nope.

Writing isn’t going great but at least THAT I’ve shown progress.

So, even though I’m running out of time, I am going to get organized NOW.

Pinterest projects:

necklaces and magnets

stamping metal

wall decoration with toilet paper holders (don’t judge)

candle holders/lanterns with tin cans

flip flop wreath

2 collages on canvases

Tin foil picture

paint denim skirt

Sewing projects:

orange dress

pink dress

modified denim skirt

bright skirt

purple and black skirt

modified t-shirt with elastic thread

Organizing projects:

hall closet

middle room closet

fourth bedroom (need my husband’s help)

laundry room

I need to find a place to take my old computers. They don’t work enough for me to erase the hard drives, though. Any ideas?

Okay, I went to Creative Commons and here is Henry!

What Would The Junk Gypsies Do?

My mom told me about this show I should watch called Junk Gypsies on HGTV (I think.) It’s about these 2 sisters who are interior designers, but they get most of their finds from thrift stores and repurpose them, like turning a motorcycle gas tank into a light fixture. Anyway, I LOVE this show. The sisters are from Texas, and while some of their decorations are something I’d never use, I love watching them come up with ideas. Also, I think they dress cool, and they’re very handy, though sometimes they get their dad and some others to pitch in. And I love the way they meet with the client, then go out to eat while they make their plan. They do a LOT of advertising for local businesses like those restaurants and other stores. One episode, they went to Texas Trash and Treasures, who had a booth at the King William Fair.

Anyway, I’ve been wanting to reorganize my guest room, which really is more of a project storage room. I have printed out manuscripts and other writing paraphernalia, and all of my sewing and other project stuff. I don’t have enough room in there, with the full-sized bed. I feel so scattered lately and I think part of it is that I have too many projects in too many places.

Last year when I was painting the wall in the living room, I moved the DVD case and it broke. For some reason, Fred kept part of it, and I started to throw it out last week, but stopped myself. Only one side was damaged, and it had lots of storage space, so I put it in the middle room, not sure where I was going to put it. Yesterday when I was thrifting with my mom, my inner question was, “What would the Junk Gypsies do?” I knew I didn’t have room to spread out so I had to spread UP.

I didn’t find anything at the stores, but when I came home, I thought about putting the DVD case on top of the desk. I don’t sit there anyway, and it doesn’t take as much space as I expected. So I cleaned off (and out) my desk, put the case on top, and filled in the cubbies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’d had a bulletin board behind it, and it had some old OLD contest announcements, etc., on it. I took it down, thought about how the Junk Gypsies made a cute framed bulletin board and put inspirational stuff on it. I dug out a smaller bulletin board (not framed) and put inspirational stuff on it and hung it over where I’m storing my fabric and patterns.

 

Last, I put a bookshelf in there and put some of my projects on it. I just remembered I have some more in the pantry. Ahem.

 

 

I still need to get in the closet and clean the floor, but it’s much MUCH better than it was. Maybe now I can focus on getting things done and not be so scattered.

Goals for the Week of NOTHING

Okay, it will be a rough week because Josh’s girlfriend moved to Alaska yesterday to go to school. They’ve been together every day for almost a year, first as friends, then as a couple. He’s going to be lonely and heartbroken and I hope I can keep his spirits up. If you’re keeping track, last year about this time his last girlfriend broke up with him. So the challenge will be keeping him busy.

 

1. Keep working on revisions–10 pages a day.
2. Keep working on new novella, 2000 words a day
3. Dentist appointment
4. Day with Mom
5. Judge 2 contest entries
6. Go see Dark Knight Rises.
7. Keep up the house. I had a lady and her daughter clean it yesterday. 6 hours and it looks fantastic.
8. Do better about cooking. With Josh and Jolene out a lot this past week, I think I cooked twice.
9. Keep up with exercising. I’ve also completely cut out snacking, which is just as big an accomplishment, IMO. Instead of snacking, I get on the bike.

Alas, I’m not going to add cutie pictures anymore after reading Roni Loren’s blog about how she got sued by a photographer for posting a picture. That makes me sad because A) I like looking for the pictures and B) I like tracking my progress by changing the pictures when I’m done with the book.I know some people are deleting their Pinterest boards, too, but I just….can’t. I feel like it’s okay to still use the cat pictures since they have a “share” button.

Outlander the TV Series–Who Should Play Jamie Fraser?

Apparently they are making a TV series from the book series Outlander, which is one of my favorite books of all time. For those of you who haven’t read it, it’s the story of a British World War II nurse who goes to Scotland after the war with her husband and travels back in time, where she falls in love with a young Scottish warrior. (Jamie. Sigh.) It’s got politics, romance, heartbreak, and the series (as far as I’ve read. I don’t think I’ve read the last 2) lasts from just before Culloden to the American Revolution.

It’s going to be awesome, I hope, if they give it the same attention as they give Game of Thrones and True Blood, but the key for me will be…who is Jamie.

When I read the book 15 years ago, I had definite ideas that of course I can no longer remember. I think Sean Bean was tossed around a bit, and he would have been great. A few years back when I was watching Crusoe on NBC (something like 3 episodes before I’m wondering how long he can avoid being rescued by all these people who are showing up on the island) but I thought Philip Winchester would make a perfect Jamie. The thing is, Jamie is a red-headed, 23-year-old Scotsman, and Philip might be a bit old.

 

 

Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, who plays Jamie on The Game of Thrones, would be good, too, but again too old.

 

 

So, any thoughts? Did you read the books? Did you love Jamie? Who should play Jamie? I’m sure they’ll get someone to play Claire, but that’s not as important to me

My Charms, Let Me Show You Them

Apparently this is my week for stealing blog post ideas. Robyn Dehart posted about her charm bracelet earlier this week. Because of her, I have a charm bracelet for my books, so I thought I’d share it.

My favorite charm, a haunted house representing A Ghost of a Doubt. You can ALMOST see the little ghost inside!

The Africa charm is for Don’t Look Back, the firefighter charm is for Hot Shot and Where There’s Smoke and the Ranger charm is for Breaking Daylight. The rhino is for the very first book I finished but will never sell. The truck could also be for Breaking Daylight.

A charm for my first and third Golden Hearts, with a scuba diver for Beneath the Surface between them.

Texas for Sunrise Over Texas, the coffeepot for Something to Talk About and the Penguin for Midnight Sun. I thought I had a better picture of the rodeo one, but it’s for Bull by the Horns.

My second and third Golden Hearts.

Okay, hm, that doesn’t seem like all of my books. After reading Robyn’s post, I bought a Minnesota state charm for my Bluestone books and an airplane for Three Days, Two Nights. Still…someone doesn’t have a charm. Huh. I’m missing one for Road Signs, one for Guarded Hearts and one for Star Power. Must remedy that.

I want an Austin state capital for Guarded Hearts, a lighthouse for Star Power and….wonder if I can get a classic car for Road Signs?

I have a few extra charms on my bracelet–vampire fangs for the vampire hunter book I wrote. I haven’t worked out just what’s wrong with that book, though. I have a police badge for a couple of stories I wrote early early on. I have a Space Needle for the first NaNoWriMo book I wrote. I have my Duel on the Delta pistols and a computer and a camel. Why a camel? A long time ago on the eHarlequin boards, someone said writing a book is like crossing the desert, and being published was different only in that now you have a camel. So when I got published, I bought a camel!

Okay, off to see what charms I can find. Do you have something to commemorate your books?

I finished my rough draft yesterday–whew! My first full-length book to write this year. Now I’m going to revise ten pages a day while working on another novella.Welcome, Henry.

 

Most Memorable Books, MJ Edition

The other day, Celia Yeary wrote a post about the ten most memorable books she’s read. So I started thinking. I’ve been reading as long as I can remember, so…

10) Flood Friday by Lois Lenski. I bought an old edition of this book with my first royalty check. I read it many many times when in elementary school. I could walk to the library at that school and pull it off the shelf right now if they still have it.

9) The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Who could forget the way they’d have to weave the hay into braids to burn it when they were running out of wood?

8) Winds of War by Herman Wouk. LOVED this series about the family swept up in World War II. LOVED the series.

7) Salem’s Lot. I read it in middle school and it scared the HELL out of me. Best vampire book ever.

6) The Stand. I read it not long after Salem’s Lot and it terrified me. But I loved it.

5) Sophie’s Choice. I’ve read a lot of WW2 books, but this one I remember the most strongly.

4) Through a Glass Darkly by Karleen Koen. This is the book that I finished reading (something like 800 pages, tiny print) and turned back to the first page and started reading again.

3) Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. This is the one I’ve read more than once, but I do want to read the others.

2) Outlander. All together now: Jamie. Sigh!

1) Winter Roses by Anita Mills. God I love that book, the first romance I read about a hero who had some insecurities. I loved William of Dunashie. Wanted to name my son William, but Fred protested.

That was both easier and harder than I thought–I left off Dark Sunshine, about a girl with polio who tames a wild mustang, Summer of my German Soldier, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Hiding Place…Like I said, I’ve read a lot of books! What are yours?

Nope, Don’t Like That, MJ Edition

So yesterday Trish had a post on Romance Bandits about things she doesn’t like. I’ve been friends with her for almost a decade and had no idea about some of these things. (A dishwasher? How can you hate something that does work for you AND hides your dishes?)

Then I tried to think of things that most people like that I do not.

1) spaghetti sauce. Any red sauce, really, which leaves out lasagna and most Italian food. I like tomatoes, I won’t eat a burger without ketchup, but not spaghetti sauce. No idea why.

2) pork. No pork chops, pork loin, very rarely sausage. I do like bacon.

3) Olives. Bleh.

4) Reality TV. I see the appeal, even see how it can be addictive, but I get too invested and my person gets voted off and…yeah, who needs it?

5) Shopping. Oh, I can spend money with the best of them, and on the occasion that I do go shopping, I enjoy myself. But too often it’s overwhelming–too many choices, too many people.

6) Mustard. Will have most restaurants swap it for mayo.

7) German chocolate cake. We had a TON of groom’s cake leftover after our wedding and froze it and whenever we were broke and wanted sweets, we’d take some out of the freezer and eat it. I cannot eat it every again.

8) Shrimp. Too chewy

9) ground meat (except in burgers). Can’t stand the way it smells when it’s cooking. That leaves off meatloaf, btw.

What are some things you don’t like that everyone else seems to love? I concentrated on food but there are so many other things…used to be driving until I got my Mini

I am so close to the end….

Goals for the Week of the Batman Party

My son is having some friends over on Thursday to watch the first two Nolan Batman movies before they head to the theater for the midnight show. He’s been planning this for months, has a menu worked out (Two-Face Pizza, Bane Burgers, Mr. Freeze-cicles…all Batman-themed) and even has party favors. So, Thursday’s shot. The husband and I decided we’ll go see Spiderman that evening to get out of their way, but still….

Saturday my cleaning lady is coming for her first trip. She works another job, so Saturday is the only long day she has. So another day shot. I will NOT be able to work while she’s here.

Today we’re having the family birthday party for Josh, but at my mom’s. My SIL has a scooter chair while she’s recovering from foot surgery and she’d never be able to get around my house on it. So my mom’s cleaning, doing the main dishes…I have very little prep.

The teachers want to go to a winery on Tuesday but I think I’m going to have to beg off. I just can’t lose another day this week.

So, it’s a busy week. I have 5 weeks left of summer vacation and I’m not doing well on my goals.

Big goal: finish craft room

Pinterest goal: jewelry and magnets

1. WRITE. FINISH FINISH FINISH.
2. Celebrate Josh’s birthday.
3. Judge 2 PYHIAB entries.
4. Day with Mom.
5. Straighten the house and clean the bathrooms for the party and so the cleaning lady won’t think we’re complete pigs.
6. I would really like to sew something too but I don’t know if that will happen.
7. Spiderman movie